brought to you by: Kerri, Naomi, Travis, & Bethany.
Q: What is a Cytoskeleton? A: Intracellular Framework that helps to define and control the shape of the cell.
Q: What is the function of the Cytoskeleton? A: As its name implies, the cytoskeleton helps to maintain cell shape. But the primary importance of the cytoskeleton is in cell motility. The internal movement of cell organelles, as well as cell "locomotion" and muscle fiber contraction could not take place without the cytoskeleton.
Q: What are the parts of a Cytoskeleton? A: Microtubules-25nm diameter, 200nm to 25um in length constructed from globular proteins called tubulins. Microtubulins are found in Cytoplasm of the cell They radiate from a ceentrosome, also known asmicrotubule-organizing center,which is near the nucleus.
Motor- molecules-help organelles move along microtubules (motor molecules are protein)
Centrioles- are found in animals. The centrioles help organize the microtubule assembly.
Intermediate Filaments-They provide the structural support for cells and their nuclei.
Microfilaments-Solid rods 7nm in diameter, they are built from Actin and Myosin. They play a large role in the muscle contraction in the cell and support. They are present in all eukaryotic cells. They function to make the cell longer, known as pseudopodia ("false" "foot"). In plants, they are used in Cyto plasmic streaming. The Microfilaments allow the cell to move or change shape when proteins' subunits slide past one another. They are long, thin, and intertwined proteins known as Actin and Myosin. This creates the structure called the cytoskeleton and allows the cell organelles to travel along it. Q: What is Myosin and Actin? A: Actin creates the structure of the cytoskeleton and look like long intertwined threads. Myosin is a lot like Actin but has a hinged foot protein that allows the movement of the organelles.
Q: Is the Cytoskeleton present in all cells? A: Yes, although ot was once thought only eukaryotes had this unique structure, recent research has discovered prokeryote cytoskeletons.
Q: Are there any diseases/disorders associated with the cytoskeleton? A: Yes, emerging evidence suggests that mutations contributing to disease are associated with disfunction of the Cytoskeleton.
Q: What is one disease/disorder that is associated with the Cytoskeleton? A: One disease/ disorder that is associated with Cytoskeleton is Alzheimers. Tangles of filaments largely made up of a protein associated with the cytoskeleton have been observed in samples taken from Alzheimer brain tissue. Q: Is there anything believed to modify the Cytoskeleton? A: Yes, there is a present hypothesis that hormones may modify the Cytoskeleton.
WORK CITED * Pictures from BIOLOGY THIRD EDITION by Neil A. Campbell. Copyrighted 1987, 1990, 1993 by The Benjamin/ Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.
Other Information from:
BIOLOGY THIRD EDITION by Neril A. Campbell. Copyrighted 1987, 1990, 1993 by The Benjamin/ Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.
Cytoskeleton Information
brought to you by: Kerri, Naomi, Travis, & Bethany.Q: What is a Cytoskeleton?
A: Intracellular Framework that helps to define and control the shape of the cell.
Q: What is the function of the Cytoskeleton?
A: As its name implies, the cytoskeleton helps to maintain cell shape. But the primary importance of the cytoskeleton is in cell motility. The internal movement of cell organelles, as well as cell "locomotion" and muscle fiber contraction could not take place without the cytoskeleton.
Q: What are the parts of a Cytoskeleton?
A: Microtubules- 25nm diameter, 200nm to 25um in length constructed from globular proteins called tubulins. Microtubulins are found in Cytoplasm of the cell They radiate from a ceentrosome, also known as microtubule-organizing center, which is near the nucleus.
- Centrioles- are found in animals. The centrioles help organize the microtubule assembly.

Intermediate Filaments- They provide the structural support for cells and their nuclei.Microfilaments- Solid rods 7nm in diameter, they are built from Actin and Myosin. They play a large role in the muscle contraction in the cell and support. They are present in all eukaryotic cells. They function to make the cell longer, known as pseudopodia ("false" "foot"). In plants, they are used in Cyto plasmic streaming. The Microfilaments allow the cell to move or change shape when proteins' subunits slide past one another. They are long, thin, and intertwined proteins known as Actin and Myosin. This creates the structure called the cytoskeleton and allows the cell organelles to travel along it.
Q: What is Myosin and Actin?
A: Actin creates the structure of the cytoskeleton and look like long intertwined threads. Myosin is a lot like Actin but has a hinged foot protein that allows the movement of the organelles.
Q: Is the Cytoskeleton present in all cells?
A: Yes, although ot was once thought only eukaryotes had this unique structure, recent research has discovered prokeryote cytoskeletons.
Q: Are there any diseases/disorders associated with the cytoskeleton?
A: Yes, emerging evidence suggests that mutations contributing to disease are associated with disfunction of the Cytoskeleton.
Q: What is one disease/disorder that is associated with the Cytoskeleton?
A: One disease/ disorder that is associated with Cytoskeleton is Alzheimers. Tangles of filaments largely made up of a protein associated with the cytoskeleton have been observed in samples taken from Alzheimer brain tissue.
Q: Is there anything believed to modify the Cytoskeleton?
A: Yes, there is a present hypothesis that hormones may modify the Cytoskeleton.
WORK CITED
* Pictures from BIOLOGY THIRD EDITION by Neil A. Campbell. Copyrighted 1987, 1990, 1993 by The Benjamin/ Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.
Other Information from:
*Peters, Rudolph A.. "Hormones and the Cytoskeleton." Nature Publishing Group 177. 42603 Mar 1956 04 Dec 2008 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v177/n4505/abs/177426a0.html>.